Rampage need a strong finish to make playoffs

By John Whisler :
April 9, 2012
: Updated: April 9, 2012 8:55pm

San Antonio Rampage's Nolan Yonkman (43) defends the crease against Chicago Wolves' Antoine Roussel (27) in front of Rampage goaltender Jacob Markstrom during the first period of an AHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 4, 2012, in San Antonio.

A victory over Chicago the pervious night vaulted them into fifth place and squarely in the AHL's Western Conference postseason picture.

But over the next 48 hours, everything would change.

The Rampage lost to Milwaukee 3-1 at the AT&T Center on Saturday and, by Sunday night, the team had fallen from fifth all the way to ninth.

Milwaukee defeated Houston on Sunday to jump from ninth to fifth.

The top eight teams in each conference qualify for the playoffs.

“We basically switched positions with them,” Rampage coach Chuck Weber said of the Admirals. “That's how crazy this whole thing has been.

“We were the hunted, now we're the hunters.”

The Rampage have a chance to improve their position tonight when they host Milwaukee at the AT&T Center.

Although four spots behind the Admirals, the Rampage are only one point behind them in the standings and can leap from ninth back into fifth with a victory.

Only three points separate the fifth-place and 11th-place teams.

The Rampage close the regular season with four games over the next six days. Three of them are at the AT&T Center.

The good news is three of the teams ahead of them have only two games left, making it easier for the Rampage to gain ground.

“There's a good feeling in the locker room right now,” center Bracken Kearns said. “We just need to start burying our chances.”

The Rampage, top affiliate of the Florida Panthers, have just three goals in their previous three games and have scored just three times in three games against the Admirals this season – all 3-1 losses.

“This is the biggest game of the season for us,” defenseman Nolan Yonkman said.

The Rampage, who have not been to the postseason since the 2007-08 season, were in a similar position a year ago. Then, as the primary affiliate of the Phoenix Coyotes, they lost three of their final four to miss the playoffs.